TROUBLES AT KARUNGU. 637 



* 



beds in the sand and shingle of which the strata are composed. Strips of green 

 trees mark the position of these water-courses, and the rest of the country is 

 covered with the Manyema grass, interspersed with trees stunted by the grass 

 fires. Until this grass is burnt down it is impossible to proceed, as it is often 

 twelve and fourteen feet high, with stalks as thick as the thumb of a man's 

 hand, and growing in such a dense mass that a person may throw himself against 

 it and make scarcely any impression. Even after it is burnt down, the thicker 

 stalks remain, and sadly impede progress. 



Soon after leaving the Luama, they passed a few hills on their left, and 

 many streams, some flowing to the Luama, and some direct to the Lualaba. 

 Their road took them through many villages, in several of which the men 

 belonging to the Wamerima traders stole food from the natives. At Kar- 

 ungu, a large village, matters came to a crisis, and a row between the traders 

 and natives occurred. The people of the caravans rushed for their guns, and 

 the natives threw their spears at the people nearest them. One fellow's spear 

 fell only a couple of feet from where Cameron was sitting quietly writing. 

 For a couple of days things were in a state of semi-warfare, the traders' people 

 going out in bodies whenever they saw a chance, and the natives gathering 

 together in a jungle with their spears and shields, shouting and yelling. In 

 their numerous sorties, the traders' people caught a lot of women, children, 

 and goats; and the natives soon found that spears, their only offensive wea- 

 pons, were no match for the guns of their opponents. After several abortive 

 attempts to settle the quarrel, peace was at length concluded. It was after- 

 wards ascertained that people from several of the places through which the 

 caravans had passed had joined with those of Karungu ; and if there had 

 been any equality in the way in which the two sides were armed, the traders 

 and their party would have been in great peril. 



Two days after leaving Karungu they arrived at a village called Man- 

 garah, the chief of which was friendly with the Arabs. His son had come out to 

 Karungu to welcome the strangers; and, on their arrival at his father's, he intro- 

 duced Cameron to him in the most gentlemanly manner possible. Mangarah 

 is one of several villages in which there are many iron foundries ; a beautiful 

 black speculum ore being obtained close to the surface throughout the district. 

 At Mangarah they were met by an Arab partner of Syde Mezrui, who re- 

 sided at Kwakasongo, and several chiefs who accompanied him. Instigated 

 by Syde Mezrui, these men endeavoured to dissuade Cameron from pursuing 

 his contemplated journey, by telling him the most unwarrantable tales of dan- 

 ger as to the road in front. 



They started the next day for Kwakasongo, and after taking a couple of 

 marches to get there, instead of one which they should have taken, reached 

 the place. Here Cameron found no fewer than fourteen or fifteen Arabs, 

 Wasuahali and Wamerima, settled; they had about two thousand Wanyamwesi 



